Five reasons to be excited about City vs Wanderers

The birth of a new strike partnership, new signings in action and our first home match of the season, here are five reasons to be excited about our FFA Cup Quarter Final at AAMI Park on Wednesday night.

A tantalising all A-League battle

There’s no better way to kick-start the new season than with an early blockbuster at AAMI Park.

Expect there to be fireworks on Wednesday night as two of the most attacking teams in the competition battle to land an early psychological blow ahead of the new A-League season.

Buoyed by a strike force consisting of star quality in Tim Cahill and Bruno Fornaroli, John van’t Schip’s side will hope to seal a second consecutive Semi Final berth at the expense of Western Sydney outfit packed with new additions.

After putting together a string of impressive pre-season results, you can count on Tony Popovic's side to arrive at AAMI Park with the intention of playing a free-flowing and attacking brand of football.

The additions of Kerem Bulut, Jumpei Kusukami and new marquee Nicolas Martinez are an added bonus for a team who is in fine goal-scoring form, netting eight goals in their last two pre-season encounters.

It promises to be a tight affair but with the likelihood of goals, controversy and individual brilliance, it is a clash not to be missed.

Watch Australia’s greatest goal-scorer at home

It’s the home debut every Melbourne City fan has been waiting for.

After experiencing his first taste of competitive action in Australia during the Round of 16 win over Brisbane Strikers, Tim Cahill is set to make his first City appearance at AAMI Park against Western Sydney.

The Socceroos star has already displayed his knack for scoring important goals since returning to Australia, netting his 48th goal for his country with a crucial half-volley against the United Arab Emirates in the latest round of World Cup qualifiers.

Add in a goal on his first City start in the pre-season friendly against Wellington Phoenix in Townsville, and Cahill is eager to impress the City fans ahead of his first home appearance.

“It’s exciting. I haven’t played [at AAMI Park] in a long time. But to play in front of our home crowd and to make my debut at home, it’s an awesome time.”

As John van’t Schip’s side continue its quest to win an early piece of silverware, the stage is set for Cahill to make his mark on the Westfield FFA Cup.

Two record-breaking scorers unite.

No one is more excited at the prospect of playing alongside Cahill than marquee man Bruno Fornaroli.

With a Golden Boot award to show after a record-breaking maiden campaign, City’s marquee picked up from where he left off with two goals from the penalty spot to send City into the last eight of the FFA Cup against Brisbane Strikers.

Cahill’s appearance as a second-half substitute gave City fans a first glimpse of the two strikers playing together, in an embryonic view of one of the A-League’s most formidable strike partnerships.

Add the pace of Bruce Kamau, the industry of Nick Fitzgerald and the guile of Anthony Caceres and Fernando Brandan, City will have a plethora of goal-scoring options to trouble the Wanderers on Wednesday night.

A new look City outfit.

We’re not talking about new signings here. Wednesday night will see City play in its brand new 2016/17 Home Jersey for the first time in a competitive match.

The kit, designed by Melbourne City’s official on-field kit partner Nike, is accentuated by City Blue on the jersey’s sleeves and socks, while the jersey and shorts retain the predominantly white colour of the Club’s 2015/16 home kit.